Athens Mutual Aid Network

As of July 8th, AMAN has redistributed over $31,500 of wealth in our community! Please read below for more information on why we moved from venmo to opencollective!

Athens Mutual Aid Network (AMAN) is a horizontal network of community members and local organizations that bonded together in the midst of the multiple health, economic, and political crises that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are immigrant rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ organizations, unions, and political groups that stand in solidarity with the medically, economically, and socially vulnerable communities of Athens. By coordinating the sharing of resources and promoting communication between local advocacy organizations, AMAN strives to support our community by advancing equity and the dignity, agency, and well-being of its members.

NEED AID?
- Call the AMAN hotline: 844-423-6886 and press “1”
- You can list what you need at www.covaid.co/athens-request and get connected to a neighbor
- Post a longer-term volunteer job description at www.athenshelpwithcovid.com

GIVE AID:
- To volunteer to help your neighbors sign up at www.covaid.co/athens-volunteer
- Take on a longer-term volunteer role at www.athenshelpwithcovid.com
- Donate!

Our group's founding mission and principles of alignment are here in this open letter: http://bit.ly/athensmutualaidletter

ABOUT OPEN COLLECTIVE:
After analyzing the use of Venmo to collect funds, the Athens Mutual Aid Network has decided to move to a fiscal sponsorship called Open Collective. First and foremost, Open Collective allows us to be democratic with the use of funds, allowing us to continue developing collective governance. We are able to be transparent with receiving and giving out funds. No one person holds or owns funds. With Venmo, there is a large tax liability for the person whose name is under the account, which means that we lose a cut of our donations to the federal government via taxes, but all that burden falls on one person. With Open Collective, they take a small cut up front to pay their staff and to keep their secure servers running so that our transactions are safe, taxes are filed correctly, and so that we keep everyone secure in their interactions with us. We will be able to refrain from becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit, so we can keep the flexibility and fluidity of our grassroots network.